I recently had an enlightening discussion regarding the proposed recall with a woman soliciting signatures in front of a market. When asked why a recall — she explained that San Bernardino is bankrupt. I wanted to know why that would require the recall of the City Council members and city attorney and was told it was their fault.

I explained that when Judith Valles was mayor, she left with a surplus. The woman then explained that it was not the mayor’s responsibility — it was the council members and city attorney. When I pointed out that when the surplus existed the city also had in office City Attorney Jim Penman as well as Councilman Chas Kelley and Councilwoman Wendy McCammack — she told me to have a nice day.

Once again outside interests are trying to deflect responsibility for San Bernardino’s problems from those who are truly at fault and pin them on the very people working so hard to save the city.

— Melanie Hastings, San Bernardino

Lax marijuana laws do more harm than good

In his May 12 column, John Weeks decided to take issue with fact that the city of San Bernardino has started to close up all the marijuana dispensaries since the recent California Supreme Court decision that allows cities to ban dispensaries.

I would like Mr. Weeks and readers to see and read the truth about the damage that marijuana does to a community.

Just over a month ago now, two Santa Cruz police detectives were murdered by a mentally deranged individual with a history of a long criminal record. Since these deaths, the Santa Cruz Sentinel has published several articles and an editorial exposing the truth that the city’s liberal and progressive policies created a “beacon” drawing drug addicts, criminals, murders, robberies, homeless, and so much more. The statistics show that since Santa Cruz’s liberalization of drug policy, its children’s abuse of marijuana and other drugs far exceeds that of all other cities all across America.

The citizens of Santa Cruz have had enough and have formed a group named “Take Back Santa Cruz” to fight for their right for a safe and drug-free environment.

Santa Cruz was one of the first cities in America to allow the marijuana dispensaries to openly sell their product. It is also one of the first cities to create an ordinance making marijuana “the lowest of the low” crimes. It would do well for Mr. Weeks to do a little fact-checking into the suffering the city of Santa Cruz is now going through because of its elected officials’ liberal policies on drugs. Let Santa Cruz be the model for why one should never to listen to those who would say otherwise.

Regarding gun control, all I hear is constant blather about “the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” How come no one speaks about “a well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free state”? The only well-regulated militias I know of here are the National Guard and several well-armed and well-trained “patriot” groups.

In Switzerland, the government issues rifles to all able-bodied males who then serve as the militia and maintain security.

If the gun enthusiasts want to consider themselves a militia, then they should expect to be well-regulated, which would include training and thorough background checks.

I don’t see how any thinking member of Congress could interpret Article II of the Bill of Rights any differently.